Sydney, Jan 3: As many as 13 wickets fell on Day 1 of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar series despite glorious batting conditions at the SCG. After restricting India to 191, Australia were 116 for the loss of three wickets with Ricky Ponting (44*) and Michael Clarke (47*) at the crease at stumps.

Like his Australian counterparts earlier in the day, Zaheer Khan pitched the ball up to claim David Warner and Shaun Marsh off consecutive balls to leave the hosts at 8 for two. As in the first Test, Ed Cowan and Ricky Ponting looked to build a partnership but the duo could add only 29 runs before Zaheer struck again to trap Cowan lbw. After the pace spearhead rattled the top order, Ponting and Michael Clarke came together to build an unbroken partnership of 79 runs that confirmed an Australian fight-back.

Earlier, the hundredth Test match hosted at the Sydney Cricket Ground started off on a positive note for the hosts after they were asked to bowl by MS Dhoni. The visitors never quite recovered from the early blow dealt by Pattinson when he sent back Gautam Gambhir off the third ball of the day without a run on the board. Exploiting the pitch conditions to the fullest, the Australian pacers kept the batsmen down with a tight line and full length; the ball ripping past the off-stump kept the keeper and the slip cordon busy. Man-of-the-Match in the previous Test, James Pattinson looked like a contender for the award in this Test too as he ran through India’s top and middle order claiming a four-for. He was ably supported by Peter Siddle who chipped in with three wickets including those of Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli.

Rahul Dravid, who coming to the crease in the first over of the day departed to a pitched-up delivery by Siddle that got the inside edge to hit the bat-pad and land safely into the hands of Ed Cowan. A few overs later, Sehwag followed him back to the pavilion. The destructive opener, who was dropped by Ponting on 23, was out for 33 to an outside edge off Pattinson that went straight to Brad Haddin behind the wicket.

There was still hope as VVS Laxman, who has scored three centuries at the venue, came out to join Sachin Tendulkar who looked solid at the other end. But after getting off the mark with a back-foot punch through the covers, the stylish batsman handed a catch to Marsh at third slip off Pattinson’s bowling.

Virat Kohli, who replaced him at the crease, was once again unable to make a mark in the longest format of the game. Like his predecessors, the youngster got into the line of the ball and edged Siddle to Haddin for 23. With half the side back in the hut, the Indian skipper came to the crease. But Pattinson struck again, this time to castle Tendulkar (41) and expose the tail.

Ben Hilfenhaus, retained in the side despite the availability of Ryan Harris, made light work of dismissing the bowlers. He scalped R Ashwin and Zaheer Khan off consecutive deliveries and then claimed Ishant Sharma’s wicket, even as Dhoni stood firm at the other end. Siddle then claimed Umesh Yadav as his 100th Test wicket to wrap up the Indian innings. The Indian captain, who had launched a solo counterattack after Tendulkar’s dismissal, managed to score his first half-century in Australia. He was left stranded at 57 when the Indian innings ended.

Brief scores:

At end of Day 1: India 1st innings 191 all-out in 59.3 overs (MS Dhoni 57*, SR Tendulkar 41, J Pattinson 4/43, B Hilfenhaus 3/51, P Siddle 3/55), Australia 1st Innings 116/3 in 26 overs (M Clarke 47*, R Ponting 44*, Z Khan 3/26)